An official said Thursday that mounted Border Patrol officers arrested nearly three dozen border crossers dressed in camo near the Arizona-New Mexico state line.
Interim Chief Patrol Agent for the Tucson Sector John Modlin announced on Twitter:
“The Douglas Station’s #Horse Patrol Unit arrested a group of 32 migrants after illegally crossing the border. The 32 Mexican Nationals utilized camouflage clothing to blend into the surrounding vegetation.”
A photo attached to the social media post appeared to be from the perspective of a Border Patrol agent riding a horse. A helicopter flies in the background, and several other officers surround the Mexican nationals dressed in camouflage.
The Douglas Station’s #Horse Patrol Unit arrested a group of 32 migrants after illegally crossing the border near the #AZ / #NM state line. The 32 Mexican Nationals utilized camouflage clothing to blend into the surrounding vegetation. pic.twitter.com/7q1GKsvF9w
— John R. Modlin (@USBPChiefTCA) May 21, 2021
However, it’s not the first time migrants have used camouflage clothing in a bid to escape detection, and crossings, in general, are up as well.
A group of 124 migrants surrendered to #BorderPatrol agents near San Miguel, AZ, early Monday morning. Although the majority of #Tucson Sector apprehensions this fiscal year are single adults, this group contained 105 unaccompanied children. @USBPChief pic.twitter.com/haZDqAGdMB
— John R. Modlin (@USBPChiefTCA) May 19, 2021
As the border crisis continues, 178,000 migrants came into contact with Border Patrol agents in April, 13,000 of whom were unaccompanied minors.
Last week, Border Patrol agents in El Paso discovered 20 migrants in the back of a pickup truck with a cargo trailer, and another 23 migrants were discovered packed in an open-topped Panga-style vessel in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.
Officials from the Border Patrol have warned that border crossings are becoming more dangerous during the summer months.
Here’s what acting Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Sabri Dikman said:
“The desert is vast and it’s treacherous, when you cross illegally you put your life in incredible peril. I’m telling you this not only as a Border Patrol agent, but as one who spent his entire 23-year career in Arizona. I speak from experience.”
A classified memo about the border crisis was delivered to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, on Tuesday. McCarthy claims that the “border crisis has spiraled into a national security crisis” as a result of the newly shared information.
McCarthy said:
“Although the briefing I received today was classified, I can tell you that I’m even more concerned for America’s security than I was before. More than 1,500 individuals evade law enforcement at the border every day, it must be immediately addressed.”
Sources: Westernjournal, Thehitc, Hotair